Led by Frankie Valli and his signature falsetto, the Four Seasons dominated the 60s with an impressive run of hits that included many #1 classics like "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Rag Doll." The group would achieve another final #1 in 1976 with "December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)," which re-charted to #14 as a dance re-mix in 1994. Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons are ranked as the 6th most successful artist in the 60s and #35 overall. Frankie Valli also had a successful solo career that he started in 1965, obtaining more huge hits like "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (#2), "My Eyes Adored You" (#1), "Swearin' To God" (#6), and his big comeback hit "Grease" (#1 for two weeks) from the movie of the same name. Frankie and the boys tried twice to strike gold with their version of Joe Cook's "Peanuts," which Cook took to #22 in 1957 with his outfit, Little Joe & The Thrillers. The Four Seasons versions bubbled under in 1963 and again in 1964, but is included on several of their "hits" compilations.
"Pollyanna" is a catchy tune from 1966 by Classics IV that probably would have charted if the manager of The Four Seasons didn't demand that radio stop playing it. Classics IV were known as simply "The Classics" back then at the genesis of their career, and sounded a lot more like the Four Seasons than the smooth jazz rock that later made them famous. So this move by the manager of The Four Seasons may have been a blessing in disguise, but for real? Afraid of a little competition? Not only did the Classics have to stop playing what was arguably destined to be a hit, and change their sound to avoid the comparison to Four Seasons, they also had to change their name since another band named The Classics already existed. So lead singer Dennis Yost changed the band's name to Classics IV, since there were four members in his band. Classics IV would get their due with monster hits like "Spooky" (#3 in 1967), "Stormy" (#5 in 1968), and "Traces" (#2 in 1969).
